Herbert Hoover Born: August 10-11, 1874 (around midnight) Died: October 20, 1964 Political Party: Republican Term of Office: March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933 Vice President: Charles Curtis After President Coolidge revealed that he was not indeed running for the presidency it opened the door for a new Republican nomination; Herbert Hoover. Hoover later one both the popular vote and the majority of votes in the Electoral College, but no matter how many people favored him as president nothing could protect his “name” once the stock market crashed. Based on his lack of involvement with foreign policy, the Great Depression, and overall domestic affairs he deserves a “C.”
Hoover a hardworking, self-assured, and incorruptible man had a few main goals for his presidency. His main goals dealt with tariffs, bolstering agriculture, prohibition, and straying away from socialism. IN 1929 the Agricultural Marketing Act was put into action to help the farmers help themselves. This later established the Federal Farm Board that would later aid in selling and buying surpluses. The Federal Farm Board later created the Grain Stabilization Corporation and the Cotton Stabilization Corporation in 1930 to help pricing and lower surpluses. Hoover’s administration also established the Hawley-Smoot Tariff which started off as a type of protective tariff for farmer’s, but it became the highest protective tariff in America’s peacetime history (went up about 22%). To help lower the crime rates caused by alcohol consumption he created the National Commission on Law Observance and Law Enforcement in 1929 (Wickersham Commission. Another one of his goals was to eliminate poverty in America, but this hope/goal died with the crash of the Stock market.
Hoover’s relationship with congress was considered rocky at best. He had proven that he was unable to handle congress and often times limited his involvement and let them legislate. Congress was split with many issues such as the issue of higher tariffs on agricultural products. Both parts of congress were a Republican majority up until the end of his term where the senate was only Republican. By 1931 congress was calling for “decisive government action” to help fight against the Depression. They really wanted relief bills for farmers and the unemployed population, but most of them failed because those who supported it (progressives and liberals) were the minority in Congress. Despite not being a true relief effort, Congress did pass the Bonus bill in the winter of 1931. This bill allowed Veterans to borrow half up to one-half the value of their insurance policies. A third Wagner bill was passed by congress, but was one of Hoover’s twenty-one vetoes during his presidency. During his presidency the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1929, The Hawley-Smoot Act of 1930, and the Constitutional Amendment were passed/ratified.
President Hoover’s most effective action with the best outcome would have to be establishing the “Good Neighbor” policy. This was also one of his most effective diplomatic initiatives aimed towards the nations of South and Central America. His approach consisted of both “symbolic and substantive” aspects. Soon after his election, but before his presidency he ventured on a ten-week tour of Latin America where he gave twenty-five speeches pertaining to his plans to reduce American influence in their affairs. In 1930 he then ordered the release of the “Clark Memorandum” which went against the legality of American intervention in Latin America. Hoover often times backed-up his symbolism with actions such as removing American troops from Nicaragua and signing a treaty with Haiti in 1932. This also led to his “greatest personal triumph” of arbitrating a dispute between Chile, Peru, and Bolivia. Not only did it have benefits in his presidency, but it also provided a stable foundation for FDR to build upon.
With the good actions made by the Hoover administration also comes the bad. The worst decision made would have to be with how they deal the Bonus Army. In May of 1932 approximately 15,000 veterans traveled to Washington to demand the immediate payment of their bonus awarded to them in 1924, but it would not be due until 1945. The “Bonus Marchers” then proceeded to set-up camp near the capitol. The Bonus Bill was later voted down and many left, but at the same token many also stayed. President Hoover then ordered in July that the camps called “Hoovervilles” be cleared. General Douglas MacArthur with the help of Major Dwight Eisenhower and Major George Patton sent in four cavalry troops with tear gas, tanks, and bayonets at the ready. One casualty resulted from the attack on the Veterans and their families. The attack against the bonus army was similar to that of soldiers on the enemy. This incident resulted in criticism and evidence of the overall lack of sympathy of the President towards the sufferings of the Depression’s victims, while also marking the first time in history that the government went against its Veterans.
One of the biggest decisions made by Hoover was his response to the Great Depression. Hoover did not believe that Depression would cause as much damage or last as long as it did, as evidenced by the following quote, “All the evidences indicate that the worst effects of the crash upon unemployment will have passed during the next 60 days” in March of 1930. His policy revolved around the “trickle-down” policy which meant that if you helped the bigger the business or people higher up on the pyramid then it would make its way down to the “Average Joe.” He did not believe in federal aid to the unemployed, but rather focused on providing a total of $2 billion to help failing banks and insurance companies. This directly affected the incoming President, FDR in his “New Deal” policies. This was also a direct impact on the American people and their success during the Great Depression.
It is clear for one to see that the Nation was by far worse off at the end of his presidency due to the stock market crash, over expansion of credit, overproduction, and the Great Depression in general. Despite the Depression not being his fault his decisions in aiding the victims of the Depression was. Although he did have many good aspects of his Presidency such as the “Good Neighbor” policy, his stance on Prohibition, and his commitment to volunteerism it did not outweigh the consequences of the Bonus Army situation and The Great Depression. Therefore, President Herbert Hoover deserves a “C” for his overall Presidency. Works Cited "American President: Ulysses Simpson Grant." Miller Center of Public Affairs. 25 Apr. 2010 <http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/grant>.
DeGregorio, William A. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. 7th ed. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade, 2009. Print.
Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. The American Pageant. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002.
Herbert Hoover
Born: August 10-11, 1874 (around midnight) Died: October 20, 1964
Political Party: Republican
Term of Office: March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933
Vice President: Charles Curtis
After President Coolidge revealed that he was not indeed running for the presidency it opened the door for a new Republican nomination; Herbert Hoover. Hoover later one both the popular vote and the majority of votes in the Electoral College, but no matter how many people favored him as president nothing could protect his “name” once the stock market crashed. Based on his lack of involvement with foreign policy, the Great Depression, and overall domestic affairs he deserves a “C.”
Hoover a hardworking, self-assured, and incorruptible man had a few main goals for his presidency. His main goals dealt with tariffs, bolstering agriculture, prohibition, and straying away from socialism. IN 1929 the Agricultural Marketing Act was put into action to help the farmers help themselves. This later established the Federal Farm Board that would later aid in selling and buying surpluses. The Federal Farm Board later created the Grain Stabilization Corporation and the Cotton Stabilization Corporation in 1930 to help pricing and lower surpluses. Hoover’s administration also established the Hawley-Smoot Tariff which started off as a type of protective tariff for farmer’s, but it became the highest protective tariff in America’s peacetime history (went up about 22%). To help lower the crime rates caused by alcohol consumption he created the National Commission on Law Observance and Law Enforcement in 1929 (Wickersham Commission. Another one of his goals was to eliminate poverty in America, but this hope/goal died with the crash of the Stock market.
Hoover’s relationship with congress was considered rocky at best. He had proven that he was unable to handle congress and often times limited his involvement and let them legislate. Congress was split with many issues such as the issue of higher tariffs on agricultural products. Both parts of congress were a Republican majority up until the end of his term where the senate was only Republican. By 1931 congress was calling for “decisive government action” to help fight against the Depression. They really wanted relief bills for farmers and the unemployed population, but most of them failed because those who supported it (progressives and liberals) were the minority in Congress. Despite not being a true relief effort, Congress did pass the Bonus bill in the winter of 1931. This bill allowed Veterans to borrow half up to one-half the value of their insurance policies. A third Wagner bill was passed by congress, but was one of Hoover’s twenty-one vetoes during his presidency. During his presidency the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1929, The Hawley-Smoot Act of 1930, and the Constitutional Amendment were passed/ratified.
President Hoover’s most effective action with the best outcome would have to be establishing the “Good Neighbor” policy. This was also one of his most effective diplomatic initiatives aimed towards the nations of South and Central America. His approach consisted of both “symbolic and substantive” aspects. Soon after his election, but before his presidency he ventured on a ten-week tour of Latin America where he gave twenty-five speeches pertaining to his plans to reduce American influence in their affairs. In 1930 he then ordered the release of the “Clark Memorandum” which went against the legality of American intervention in Latin America. Hoover often times backed-up his symbolism with actions such as removing American troops from Nicaragua and signing a treaty with Haiti in 1932. This also led to his “greatest personal triumph” of arbitrating a dispute between Chile, Peru, and Bolivia. Not only did it have benefits in his presidency, but it also provided a stable foundation for FDR to build upon.
With the good actions made by the Hoover administration also comes the bad. The worst decision made would have to be with how they deal the Bonus Army. In May of 1932 approximately 15,000 veterans traveled to Washington to demand the immediate payment of their bonus awarded to them in 1924, but it would not be due until 1945. The “Bonus Marchers” then proceeded to set-up camp near the capitol. The Bonus Bill was later voted down and many left, but at the same token many also stayed. President Hoover then ordered in July that the camps called “Hoovervilles” be cleared. General Douglas MacArthur with the help of Major Dwight Eisenhower and Major George Patton sent in four cavalry troops with tear gas, tanks, and bayonets at the ready. One casualty resulted from the attack on the Veterans and their families. The attack against the bonus army was similar to that of soldiers on the enemy. This incident resulted in criticism and evidence of the overall lack of sympathy of the President towards the sufferings of the Depression’s victims, while also marking the first time in history that the government went against its Veterans.
One of the biggest decisions made by Hoover was his response to the Great Depression. Hoover did not believe that Depression would cause as much damage or last as long as it did, as evidenced by the following quote, “All the evidences indicate that the worst effects of the crash upon unemployment will have passed during the next 60 days” in March of 1930. His policy revolved around the “trickle-down” policy which meant that if you helped the bigger the business or people higher up on the pyramid then it would make its way down to the “Average Joe.” He did not believe in federal aid to the unemployed, but rather focused on providing a total of $2 billion to help failing banks and insurance companies. This directly affected the incoming President, FDR in his “New Deal” policies. This was also a direct impact on the American people and their success during the Great Depression.
It is clear for one to see that the Nation was by far worse off at the end of his presidency due to the stock market crash, over expansion of credit, overproduction, and the Great Depression in general. Despite the Depression not being his fault his decisions in aiding the victims of the Depression was. Although he did have many good aspects of his Presidency such as the “Good Neighbor” policy, his stance on Prohibition, and his commitment to volunteerism it did not outweigh the consequences of the Bonus Army situation and The Great Depression. Therefore, President Herbert Hoover deserves a “C” for his overall Presidency.
Works Cited
"American President: Ulysses Simpson Grant." Miller Center of Public Affairs. 25 Apr. 2010 <http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/grant>.
DeGregorio, William A. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. 7th ed. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade, 2009. Print.
Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. The American Pageant. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002.
Sollenberger, Mitchel A. "CRS-3: Table 1. Vetoes Overridden, 1789-Present." CRS Report for Congress (2004). CRS Web. 29 Apr. 2010 <http://www.rules.house.gov/archives/98-157.pdf>.